August Fishing Report
This has been one of, if not the best fishing I’ve seen in August over the 10 years I’ve been guiding in the High Country. Consistent afternoon thunderstorms have brought tons of rain leading to great water conditions. These rain events were much needed after the drought we experienced from late spring into mid summer.
There have been instances where areas received too much rain the night before and the streams are not fishable, so be willing to drive around to find the water that is in good shape. Although the muddy water can be frustrating, just be aware that in the coming days that water is going to be in perfect shape and the fish are going to be happy! We are still almost exclusively dry dropper fishing on both the small streams in our area as well as on the tailwaters!
Watauga River (East Tennessee)
The fishing on the Watauga has been excellent. The feeder streams (Doe and Stoney Creek) have been pumping in extra water for at least a month now. The little bit of extra water has the fish happy and feeding well. They are still doing an hour pulse in the AM, normally from 6–7 AM, followed by normal rec flow beginning at 1 PM.
Above the Doe it’s normal summer bugs (small midges, baetis, scuds). Below the Doe we’re seeing a lot of caddis activity.
Watauga Recommendations
Fly Recommendations
- Chernobyl (12–14)
- Caddis Dry (16–18)
- Zebra Midge (20–22)
- Baetis Nymph (18–22)
- Frenchie (18–20)
- Caddis Nymph (16–20)
- Pat’s Rubber Leg (12–14)
South Holston (East Tennessee)
With Holston Lake getting near full pool we started to see more generations on the South Holston. We’ve seen sulphur hatches occurring during these generations. It’s a beautiful thing to see high water conditions on the Holston after what seems like ages without consistent releases. As of now, it looks like the dam is going to be running 24/7 for the foreseeable future. As always, these conditions can change at the drop of a hat, so pay attention to release schedules.
South Holston Recommendations
Fly Recommendations
- Chubby Chernobyl (12–14)
- Sulphur Dry (14–18)
- Sulphur Nymph (16–18)
- Zebra Midge (18–22)
- Sow Bug (16–18)
- Scud (16–18)
Live Tailwater Flows
Always check current dam release schedules from TVA before heading out — flows can change without notice.
Wild Water (Western North Carolina)
We are still solely fishing the wild streams in our area. No stocking will occur in any delayed harvest streams until October. Water levels in the wild creeks have been great with the consistent rainfall. Some mornings we have to drive around to find clear water if we get a big rain event the night before. If you are planning on fishing a day, have a couple streams in mind in the chance that one of them is muddy from the night before.
As a reminder, off color doesn’t automatically mean don’t fish it. There is a big difference between blown out muddy and off color. Some of the best fishing we’ve seen this summer has been in off color water. Light dry droppers with small dries has been the name of the game.
Wild Water Recommendations
Fly Recommendations
- Rubber Leg Stimulator (12–14)
- Elk Hair Caddis (12–14)
- Chubby Chernobyl (14–16)
- Ant / Beetle Patterns (12–14)
- Perdigons (18–20)
- Frenchies (18–20)
- Squirmy Worm (stained water)
- Pat’s Rubber Leg (stained water)
- Duracell (18)
Fishing in our area has been wonderful the last month. We've been so fortunate to receive the rain that we have and are hoping and praying for it to continue. Although the summer fishing has been a blast, we're eagerly awaiting cooler temperatures and fall fishing. We can't wait to see you in the fly shop this fall!
